Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T revealed

It is the prettier replacement for the FF and the new Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T now drops other ‘f’ aspects – minus four cylinders and four-wheel-drive – to create a new turbo V8 model.

Four seats remain in the three-door shooting brake coupe, however, but the GTC4 Lusso T swaps the naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V12 for the 3.9-litre turbocharged V8 that debuted in the California T and more recently the 488 GTB.

As with those more affordable models the family-friendly Ferrari sends drive to the rear wheels only via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Outputs and revs fall from the V12’s 507kW at 8000rpm and 697Nm at 5750rpm, to 448kW at 7500rpm and 760Nm between 3000rpm and 5250rpm. In the new turbo V8’s case those numbers also fall from the 492kW/760Nm 488 GTB that starts at $469,888 plus on-roads.

The GTC4 Lusso is currently $578,888 with the V12, so expect the gap with its rear-drive, but two-seat sibling above to close when the GTC4 Lusso T arrives in Australia in November following its global public debut at next week’s Paris motor show.

An upside to the new engine and ditched front driveshaft is a 50kg-lighter kerb weight totalling 1740kg – and that leaves the GTC4 Lusso T only a tenth slower than its all-paw V12 stablemate with a claimed 3.5sec 0-100km/h.

The GTC4 Lusso T should benefit dynamically, and according to Fazz, increased rear-weight distribution (54 versus 53 per cent) gels with “specifically calibrated” rear-wheel steering (which debuted in F12 tdf and then GTC4 Lusso) and Side Slip Control (SSC3) settings.

Ferrari has clearly stated it wants an increasing amount of female and family buyers to fall in love with the GTC4 Lusso range compared with what it admits was the “polarising” FF. That means the 10.25-inch touchscreen and lashings of leather and real alloy remain, now bundled together with friendlier fuel consumption of 11.6 litres per 100 kilometres versus an eye-watering-even-for-the-well-heeled 15.3L/100km.

Maranello may be a passionate crew – but they’re also extremely business savvy these days.